Product Design (Top-up)

Course Overview

Do you want to create flawless designs? Craft sleek products from scratch, taking them from scale drawings to the final prototype? On this course, you’ll view product design as a science, creating technical products such as electronic devices and complex 3D images. You’ll be able to create your own products, learning how to present your ideas for manufacture.

Top-up your studies

If you have completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject, you can choose to top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree.

A top-up degree is the equivalent of the final year of an undergraduate degree, and offers a chance to deepen your knowledge, skills and understanding of your subject, while also getting an internationally-recognised qualification.

Design a product with purpose

Embrace the technical side of design. You’ll use a range of industry standard 3D CAD and CAD/CAM systems, and some fantastic workshop facilities to produce 3D models, fully working prototypes, computer models and animations to demonstrate your design solutions. You’ll explore different solutions for a number of areas, working with real clients as you use your expertise to create products with a purpose.

Be inspired by our team of expert designers

Our staff are all designers themselves and keep updated on the challenges that surround the industry. You receive group and one-to-one teaching as we fully support you throughout your studies. Even when undertaking independent study, staff and peers are never too far away to bounce ideas off when you’re in the workshop.

With experience, you’ll have the vision and integrity to respond to the needs of society. Product designers like Apple’s Jonathan Ive created iconic devices through their understanding of technology, production methods and market needs.

More placements, more choices

Bucks is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student. To increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.

Course Details

To achieve the full BSc (Hons) in Product Design you will need to complete a major project, a dissertation as well as a module called ‘Professional Practice’.

The major project and dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic important to you within product design. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor, who will offer support and advice.

The Professional Practice module gives you the opportunity to undertake work-based learning or answer live industry briefs, gaining the practical and transferable skills you need for your career in the creative industries.

What are the course entry requirements?

This programme is offered as a top-up qualification for students who have completed a HND, FDA, or other equivalent qualification in a relevant Art and Design subject, and wish to progress further to achieve an Honours degree.

Course Modules

Module Map

This module map provides a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits (typically either 15 or 30 credits for undergraduate courses). Compulsory (or ‘core’) modules cover key subject knowledge, while ‘option’ modules enable you to develop your own interests. For a full-time course you must take modules worth a total of 120 credits at each level of the course. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of compulsory modules at each level. You can find more information about how your course is structured via the Academic Advice pages.

Our teaching is informed by research and employer requirements, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the subject area. In addition, where we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, this may not be offered. If an option module does not run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

The modules available on this course are as follows:

Modules

Design Projects 3

Design for Manufacture

Major Project

Dissertation

Fees

How much does it cost

Full Time Home and EU 2019/20: £9,250

Full Time International 2019/20: £11,000

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

How do I apply?

Related Video

Teaching team

Employability

What are my career prospects

We believe that Product Design has a major role to play in the technological revolution. We’re developing students who can make a difference.

Graduates of this course have gone on to a wide range of careers such as product designer for Nokia, model makers for Sony, aerospace designer for BAE, and engineering designer for BMW, as well as progressing to further study. Some students also go on to start their own design business and work within design consultancies.

Our graduate network continues to spread through many companies in the industry. You’ll be a part of this network, gaining valuable contacts with a variety of work opportunities. Many former students often ask us to suggest people for their own organisations.

Upon graduation, students are well prepared to work in these areas: Product Design, Industrial Design, Automotive design, Model making, Design Engineering, Exhibition and Event Design, Furniture and Kitchen Design, Display Design, CAD Visualiser and Technician, Production and Set Design or Prop Designer and Maker.

How will you help me prepare for my future career?

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders.

There will be opportunities to engage in work-based learning for students, developing your skills in a real world context. Our modules and teaching expertise will help you become more independent as a learner and more confident of your discipline expertise.

Awards

Industry partners

The Big Deal

At Bucks, we believe in putting our students first. That’s why our Students’ Union have developed our exclusive ‘Big Deal’ package. We’re the only university in the UK to offer free access to such a diverse and exciting range of activities – all to enrich the university experience.

We offer FREE events and entertainment, additional skills workshops, sports, recreational activities, societies and paid student rep schemes. All at one of the top 10 Students’ Unions in the UK. It’s a big deal!